madrid

Real Madrid became the first team in the Champions League era to retain European football’s top trophy last season and with 2017-18 just around the corner, all eyes will be focused on usurping the Spaniards this season.

Zinedine Zidane’s men have won the pinnacle of club football in three of the last four years, vindicating their status as arguably the biggest club in the global game.

If Real Betis Vice President Lorenzo Serra Ferrer is to be believed, Barcelona are also in the race along with arch-rivals Real Madrid to sign midfielder Dani Ceballos.

"They (Barcelona) asked me what my opinion of Dani was, and I gave it to them, and you can imagine what it was," Ferrer was quoted as saying in a news conference by ESPNFC on Monday when asked whether Barcelona have evinced interest in the Spain under-21 international.

There is "no reason to get too concerned" about Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid, the Spanish football club president Florentino Perez said, adding that it may be too soon to make a bid for French club Monaco's wonder kid Kylian Mbappe.

"Cristiano has a contract with Madrid," Perez was quoted as saying by Spanish radio El Primer Palo.

Spanish football club Real Sociedad has confirmed the signing of Real Madrid defender Diego Llorente on a five-year deal. The move means that the 23-year-old, who can also play in midfield, will be at the San Sebastian-based club until the end of 2022.

Llorente joined Real Sociedad after spending last season on loan at Malaga and the previous campaign at Rayo Vallecano impressing at both clubs.

Former Real Madrid and Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa announced his retirement from professional football on Saturday.

According to Spanish publication Marca, the 34-year-old full-back, who currently plays for English Premier League (EPL) club West Ham United has called time on his career and said this is the right time for him to leave despite being physically fit.

Spanish football giants Real Madrid has confirmed that 20-year-old defender Jesus Vallejo will form part of their first team squad for the 2017-18 season.

The young central defender will fill the gap left by Pepe after the 34-year-old veteran and the club were unable to reach agreement on a new contract for the player who had spent the past 10 years at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Atletico Madrid star forward Antoine Griezmann on Tuesday extended his contract and will remain with the Spanish football club until June 30, 2022, ending a period of uncertainty about the future of the French international amid speculation about a possible 100 million euros ($112 million) move to Manchester United.

The previous contract of the 26-year-old was to run till June 30, 2021. But with the player sticking with Atletico following the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upholding a transfer ban on the club until January 2018, the Spanish outfit has rewarded Griezmann with a new contract.